Alexa

September 07, 2008

A tragedy. A shock. Extremely sad news for all who knew this special man. Minister Ron Smith was one of the best friends I have ever known. Minister Ronald Smith passed away on Friday September 5, 2008 from a heart attack. I am still very shook up from this news and will let our readers know more as soon as I get it. He was such an incredible man and just recently brought the 2008 Million Man March to Michigan. Minister Ronald Smith was also the founder of the National Fatherhood Summit and was one of the co-founders of the Family Preservation Festival. Minister Ronald Smith was co-author of the book Cheated. Minister Ronald Smith was the CEO of Children Need Both Parents, Inc. Most of all Minister Ronald Smith was an amazing father and husband!

Below is a very well known video of Minister Ronald Smith. Incredible speechwhich I had the pleasure of filming and watching live in Iowa.

God Bless Ron - We ALL love you! "My brother from another mother"

Robert Pedersen

(Readers can comment in memory/honor of Minister Ronald Smith at the bottom of this page)

From the Family of Minister Ronald Smith

Your Brother in Christ Minister Ronald Smith called Home to be with Yahweh

It is with a heavy heart, and deep sympathy, that I announce to you today that Minister Ronald Smith was called home to be with the Lord. Minister Smith passed away from an apparent heart attack on September 5, 2008.

We are currently making arrangements and would ask you to stand by for further communications with regards to a memorial.

Children Need Both Parents mourns the loss of it's founder and CEO. We praise God that Minister Smith finished all that God charged him with, and is re-united in Heaven with his son Richmond. We vow to press on with the vision God gave him. Everyone here appreciates your love and support through this most difficult of times.

May God continue to shine upon you.

Minister Ronald Smith believed in a proper accounting of God's resources. In our efforts to honor his memory, and honor his principles of stewardship, we humbly request that donations be sent in lieu of flowers. This will enable us to more effectively continue the work God began in him.

Official Announcement from Ronald Smith’s wife, Sherry Shabazz Smith:

Please be advised that there will be two services for Ronald Smith.

Many of you know that Ronald Smith passed away on Friday September 5, 2008. Thank you for your kind thoughts, considerations and prayers at this time.

The first service is coordinated by Ron’s sister and mother. Ronald will be laid to rest in Chicago. The wake and funeral specifics are listed below.

Sherry asks that NO cut flowers be sent. Live plants are welcome. Most importantly Sherry has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Children Need Both Parents, Inc. Ronald did not have medical insurance nor did he have any life insurance. Again, Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

August 26, 2008

With a sense of sarcasm Brian Downs, a Michigan Judicial Candidate, does an excellent job explaining to an audience why Michigan needs Equal Parenting. You will be amazed when you see how dramatically child custody determinations vary by county. Michigan children deserve better!Benefits of equal parenting for children.

August 07, 2008

Exciting news for those who follow the Equal Parenting Bike Trek! It is official - a professionaly designed logo for the Equal Parenting Bike Trek is already in the process and near completion. The new logo will be revealed early September 2008!

Please attend the Parental and Civil Rights event of the year - DC Festival 2008

August 03, 2008

"Mothers and fathers will have 50-50 rights to their children in a divorce beginning Oct. 1." You can review more information about this in an article written by Jenny Andreasson of The Voice. Ms. Andreasson should have titled the article "Victory for Children" because that is who really wins in all of this.

We are told during election time that Michigan Democrats serve the needs of the common person, however in this case it appears they ignore their constituents while submitting the the demands of the Family Law Section of the Michigan Bar. So - rich attorneys and Michigan Democrats are delaying the benefits Equal Parenting brings to children, parents and society. CONSIDER THIS WHEN YOU VOTE IN NOVEMBER!

As a boy growing up in the 70’s, my father taught me a valuable lesson towards understanding, often times, the seemingly peculiar chain of events of an incident. He said,“Just follow the money trail. Then you’ll know both why and what has and will happen.” Sage words of wisdom from the “Ole man!” These words were not any more truthful then, than they are now!

As I progressed thru my divorce proceedings, ultimately believing the judicial system would soon discover the truth about myself- contrary to how my Ex portrayed me; the truth of my ability to raise my kids- contrary to how my Ex portrayed me; and, the truth of the need for my four young children to have both parents equally involved in their lives, I became disillusioned, contrary to my formerly held belief, over the continuous Orders rendered by the Court! First in its sole custody award to my Ex. Then, its outrageous child and spousal support awards- triple the state’s mandated formula. Finally, as a death knell, an order of visitation, with my kids, for only four days per month! There were no summer vacations, only six half days of holidays and not any time on their birthdays. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe it! I fought back, only to lose again, and again.

After my third stint in the county jail, for allegedly being in Contempt for support arrearages; I guess over 80% garnishment of my check was not enough; I began to research this obvious injustice from my father’s old adage- “follow the money trail.” I soon discovered my Court’s pecuniary interest in: Making me a non-custodial parent; Ordering support triple the state’s formula; Refusing to reduce my support despite proof of my wage; Illegally editing the Official Court Record; Repeatedly incarcerating me for alleged contempt; Refusing to provide me with a Court appointed attorney as an indigent; And, Worst of all, taking my kids away from me by suspending my parenting time!

The Court had developed a racket, a term commonly applied to syndicated crime families. The law had become the mob! Back in 1995, the Federal Legislature re-worded its laws for Welfare, Food Stamps, etc. The old wording was “a mother with child(ren) who has an absent father,” to the new wording, “non-custodial parent.” The seemingly innocuous re-wording was intended to defray the huge expenses the Feds were paying out to states in Food Stamps, Welfare, etc by incentivizing states to begin collecting child support from the absent father, now called the non-custodial parent. These, seemingly were the proper things to do. Why should children be allocated tax dollars for their care instead of parents paying to care for their own children? Ah, but we missed that third variable didn’t we? “The Federal Government wanted to incentivize the states.”

The states’ incentive is called Federal Title IV Block Grant Funding. The states receive funding from the Federal Government at a 2:1 match. (There are actually additional incentives for states beyond this figure tied to their performances) These block grants go straight to the County Court. Ah ha! My father was right! “Follow the money trail.” Now the injustices made sense. Now the kidnapping of my children made sense! Now the senseless incarcerations made sense. Now the erasing of Court documents made sense. Now the falsely claimed, irrationally applied, “Best Interest of the Children” made sense! Now the state’s hypocrisy made sense!

The next time you wander into a Family Court in MI and you hear a non-custodial parent attacking the court for its pecuniary interest, remember what my “ole man” said, “follow the money trail!” Sage advice for those of us who have children!

June 25, 2008

We are proud of the efforts of Lary Holland and numerous other organizations sending a message to the ACFC that this event will continue! We applaud this courageous effortto make sure that the voices of those concerned over the right to parent and excessive government intrusion will not go unheard.

If you are an individual or organization we ask that you send a letter of support to Lary Holland and the DC Festival 2008 Team at laryholland@sbcglobal.net. A growing number of organizations have already signed on in support of this important effort! Make your support known now by sending your letter of support.

May 20, 2008

Beyond Incredible! Equal Parenting Cyclist, Co-founder of A Child's Right, DaddyBlogger and Detroit News featured fatherhood blogger Robert Pedersen made the FRONT PAGE of the Detroit News. This front page story with color photo was done by reporter Kim Kozlowski of the Detroit News. This is Michigan's largest newspaper in the state of Michigan with overlapping coverage in Indiana and Ohio. Circulation total is well over 300,000!

The article online also reached such popular demand that Detroit News placed in on their homepage and added additional online resources to the story. They also linked to Robert Pedersen's blog with the Detroit News - he is one of their featured fatherhood bloggers.

The article by reporter Kim Kozlowski is still, after 24 hours in their most popular section on the homepage of the Detroit News. With this success of this article Detroit News also conducted an online survey which is overwhelmingly in favor of shared parenting.

Today Robert Pedersen was also on the Mitch Albom Show which is nationally syndicated and has a massive audience in the state of Michigan. Not only does Mitch have a popular radio show, but he is also author of many books such as Tuesdays with Morrie and is a frequent guest on shows like Oprah and more.

Prior to the Mitch Albom show Robert interviewed on the Dave Jaconette Show out of Kalamazoo. Robert seemed very impressed with Jaconette's interviewing style. We are hoping to get recordings of the interviews.

This documentary is truly shocking and will put you through an emotional rollercoaster. According to the film’s website, “Support? explores the fundamental flaws in America’s Family Courts regarding the Divorce and Child Support System. The film explores the problems through over 38 interviews with both custodial and non-custodial parents and the attorneys, judges and county employees on both sides of the paradigm.”

The four trailers will show you the high quality of this film. We will most certainly keep our readers informed of the upcoming release in Michigan as soon as I receive a date.If you live near the showing in California be sure to purchase tickets now!

May 16, 2008

A very interesting process. An Associated Press (AP) Photographer took a couple hundred pictures of Robert Pedersen training for the 758 mile Equal Parenting Bike Trek from Lansing MI to Washington D.C. This happened very early in the morning today. We were told that other newspapers and media organizations can buy these photos from AP to utilize in their stories. We did confirm that some of these pictures will be used by THE largest newspaper in the state of Michigan - their total circulation is over 300,000!!! We will let you know when this will be published. Stay tuned!

May 09, 2008

A Child's Right had the pleasure of urging Derek Bailey, MSW and Dance4Equality to attend the hearings for Michigan House Bill 4564. American Indian Shared Parenting Organization, Dance4Equality was present outside of the House Building Office performing their spiritual dance in support of Michigan House Bill 4564. Derek Bailey, Tonia Bailey, Robert Pedersen and myself (Angela) had an excellent time the night before the hearings learning much about the culture of Derek Bailey's tribe which is located in Michigan. We experienced an amazing connection with the couple and are so proud to call them close friends. To see some of the members of Dance4Equality walk into the hearing room was breathtaking to say the least! A Child's Right is proudly affiliated with Dance4Equality.

Derek Bailey, MSW did an outstanding job outlining how shared parenting would positively impact his tribal community. He also did an incredible job explaining his viewpoint as a state of Michigan licensed clinical social worker and MSW. Dance4Equality CLEARLY "put themselves on the map" in Lansing as a leading shared parenting organization in Michigan. There was a tremendous sense of pride by all who supported Michigan House Bill 4564 when Dance4Equality was present.

April 30, 2008

Last week we had the incredible experience of having Instapundit, one of the world's top ranked news and political blogs, cover the 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek. This single post by Instapundit exposed thousands upon thousands of people to this inspirational story.

ABOUT.COM, owned by the New York Times and recognized as a top 15 content site, just covered the 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek. In less than 24 hours, thousands of readers have visited the main event page for the Equal Parenting Bike Trek!

Please take the time to thank author Wayne Parker for covering this important human interest story. Commenting does NOT require you to sign up for an account so it is very easy. If you utilize Stumbleupon, Digg!, Mixx or other social bookmarking please do so on Wayne Parker's story.

A Child's Right recently organized a successful Equal Parenting Symposium in Barry County Michigan. Following is Carol Rhodes, a former Michigan Friend of the Court officer, who blows the whistle on the bias and corruption in Michigan's family court systems. Special Thanks to Phil Wurm for organizing this event and Special Thanks to the Barry County Democrats for allowing the use of their facility.

A Child's Right will be bringing Equal Parenting Symposiums throughout all of Michigan. If you would like your county to have a symposium please contact Darrick Scott-Farnsworth at darricksf@achildsright.net. This is part one of Carol's speech. We will have many more videos from speakers at this event in the near future on DaddyBlogger.com.

Also -

PLEASE review the incredible media and blog coverage that is already occuring over the 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek. Instapundit, About.com, Dr. Helen, Protein Wisdom and many more of the world's top ranked news blogs have already covered this.

April 25, 2008

Literally thousands of new and unique visitors will be exposed to the exciting story of the 758 mile Equal Parenting Bike Trek thanks to the world famous blog Instapundit! Instapundit brings more exposure to this event/story than any traditional media source possibly could. This news and political blog averages between 250,000-500,000 visitors a day!! Truly stunning by all comparisons.

Are you one of the few on planet earth that has not heard of Instapundit? You might want to review this summary. Ok...now you see why this is so huge? I actually gave up tracking my visitor count on the main page for the Equal Parenting Bike Trek because there were literally thousands of people viewing it at once.

April 22, 2008

Truly amazing new media buzz over the five fathers that are pedaling 758 miles for their children!!!

Some of the word's top ranked blogs have already covered this event/story. What is even more exciting is that these are blogs that cover different topics; we have fatherhood, cycling, and news blogs covering this event for a good cause. There is much excitement over the upcoming departure event in Lansing Michigan at the Capitol.

April 15, 2008

The blog coverage of the 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek has been incredible! Some of the world's top blogs have already covered this amazing event: Instapundit, Protein Wisdom, Dr. Helen, Murdoc Online and many, many more! See the incomplete and always updating list.

Dynamic and experienced speakers will be present to discuss Michigan's family law court systems and how their actions adversely affect Michigan's families and children. Michigan House Bill 4564 (Equal Parenting) and Michigan House Joint Resolution NN (2008) will also be discussed. All Michigan citizens and members of the Michigan media are encouraged to attend.

Featured Speakers Will Include:

Jack Hoogendyk, State Representative(R), District 61, U.S. Senate candidate, 2008.

Rick Jones, State Representative(R), District 71.

Mr. Scott Hudson, Democratic candidate for State House District 43 seat, 2008.

Ms. Carol Rhodes, former Calhoun County Friend of the Court Enforcement Officer. You will not want to miss her speech as she exposes the corruption of Michigan's child custody evaluations and family court systems.

Mr. Lary Holland, Michigan family rights advocate, national expert on Social Security Title IV-D, the financial incentives behind denying children the love, care, guidance and nurturing of both of their fit and willing parents. Host of the popular talk show "Get Off The Bench".

Topics of discussion will include The Equal Parenting Bill, House Bill 4564, House Joint Resolution NN, the proposed "Parental Rights" Constitutional Amendment, and the Barry County Friend of the Court.

We are inviting parents and grandparents to come and learn the truth about Michigan's family law court system.

Learn why children have a fundamental right to be loved, guided, educated and nurtured equally by both fit and willing parents.

Media - Please accept this invitation to participate in the coverage of this incredible community event.

March 28, 2008

When it comes to the divorce of two parents that have children people think of the two parents and the children in the middle of the divorce.

In order for the state and the court system to make money through Title IV-D federal incentives, one of the fit and willing parents must be forced into the role of the non-custodial parent. Sadly, children go from seeing this parent on a daily basis and then suddenly the typical 4-6 days a month. Children have the fundamental right to be loved, guided, nurtured and educated equally by both fit and willing parents after a divorce. To deny this is child abuse.

The pain of this child abuse also affects the parents of the non-custodial parent. Grandparents are then forced to see less of their grandchildren. This is abusive not only to the children but to the grandparents as well. Grandparents, from both sides of the family tree, play an important role in the development of their grandchildren. How do grandparents in this situation deal with all of this pain? The pain of seeing their child become a non-custodial parent and being forced away from their child by no choice of their own or the child's. Grandparents must also endure the pain of seeing less of their own grandchildren.

Grandparent are increasingly becoming involved in the Shared Parenting movement and are joining in the fight against child abuse that is sponsored by a bitter spouse and the court system.

The 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek is an event worth supporting. Bloggers know an interesting and unique story. Over 4 months away and the online buzz is picking up! The five cyclists truly appreciate any help in spreading the message of this event. It is not easy to pedal over 758 miles physically or mentally for that matter. Special thanks to all bloggers that have picked this story up.

Here is a sample of some of the most recent blogs covering the 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek:

March 26, 2008

So sad! Imagine being a next door neighbor and seeing this. I wonder what she will do once the child custody dispute starts! Hopefully she will stay in jail for trying to kill her husband and putting her child at risk. Someone once told me that there is no such thing as domestic violence against men. I have always know that to not be true.

Please show your support and attend this amazing event being held at the Lansing Capitol in Michigan. ALL ARE WELCOME! A large crowd will help energize our cyclists! We already have confirmation of media coverage (TV, Newspaper & Radio) for the departure!

We Need Your Support and Help Now!

Ways you can show your support for this event:

1) Please donate for this amazing event - no amount is too small or too large. It is very expensive to pull off such a large event over 758 miles with 5 cyclists and chase crew. Donating early will allow us to advertise this event, hand out brochures along the route, gas expense for the chase vehicle, a bed to sleep in at night for the cyclists, etc.

2) Blog about this event and link to this page. Blog on MySpace and more! Post on Facebook!

3) Social Bookmark this page on StumbleUpon, Digg!,Del.icio.us, Reddit and more. Digg! and Del.icio.us can be used via the links directly below this page.

4) Email this page to everyone you know and tell them about this wonderful cause for children.

BOTH will be on Minister Ronald Smith's ultra-popular Talk Show "Children Need Both Parents". Tune in for this special show to find out how Robert Pedersen and Derek Bailey, MSW are forming an incredible coalition in Michigan. The link below will take you to the homepage for this show where you can acquire the phone number to call in and more.

CRISPE and Dance4Equality will both be present at the departure for the 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek on August 7th 2008 12 Noon-2PM at the Lansing Michigan Capitol. Ask off of work now for this special shared parenting event.

March 11, 2008

Yet another LTE printed by A Child's Right. Darrick Scott-Farnsworth in the Kalamzazoo Gazette.

Support Equal Parenting Measures in Legislature

It is time for Michigan to recognize and for citizens to demand there be a fundamental right to parent your children within the state's constitution and family law. To this end, I implore everyone to actively support both the ``parental rights'' resolution and House Bill 4564, the ``equal parenting bill.''

Children are a part of the family and they have the right to the love of both of their parents and their extended family, too. Allowing the state, without due process of law through the courts and government child welfare bureaucracies, to interrupt the child-parent relationship has destroyed many childhoods and caused untold damage to our society.

Parents should have the right to decide how their children are educated and medicated as long as there is no clear evidence that these choices will seriously harm their children. Demonstrating to children that the family is important by making sure that both parents and the entire family are respected will give children the courage to have a family of their own.

In divorce cases, the state is allowed, through the supposed best interest of the child criteria, to pressure most fathers to relinquish custody to the mother or be denied custody in court because they want to create winners and losers instead of promoting joint custody.

HB 4564 and Resolution NN will help ensure that children will have the stability and love of both of their fit, willing and able parents.

March 02, 2008

Yet another excellent editorial by The Daily Telegram! This time on Michigan House Bill 4564 and Michigan House Joint Resolution NN (2008) - if only other newspapers in Michigan had the same journalistic integrity and courage to report on the facts and not push liberal agenda.

Sunday MARCH 2, 2008

LOCAL EDITORIAL

‘Fatherhood month’ deserves state action

At issue: February being declared Responsible Fatherhood Awareness Month in Michigan.

Our view: Key bills need passage to help more children benefit from having fit non-custodial parents more involved in their lives.

February is “Responsible Fatherhood Awareness Month in Michigan,” declared by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to raise public awareness that involved fathers are important in raising children. Research shows that fathers parent in ways that tend to provide somewhat different — but complementary and equally important — benefits from parenting provided by mothers.

Unfortunately, society has moved away from the two-parent model for raising children. The U.S. Census Bureau found that between 1970 and 1990, the proportion of children living only with their mother doubled from 11 percent to 20 percent. Wednesday, the Census Bureau issued its new report that showed the latter rate has increased to 23 percent. More than one-quarter of American children live with only one parent and, in 88 percent of those cases, the Census Bureau found the mother has custody.

Divorce is a major cause of the trend. In most cases in Michigan, children of divorced parents typically are only given four to six days per month with their non-custodial parent. This arrangement remains the standard in any case in which either parent refuses joint parenting.

Two proposals are before Michigan lawmakers that would help ease that problem. One is Michigan’s Equal Parenting bill, HB 4564, which would establish that more equal parenting would become the normal expectation in contested divorces involving parents who both are fit adults. Judges still would have the authority to assign primary custody, however the burden of proof for denying one parent more equal time with their children would be shifted to a presumption of fitness rather than today’s general presumption of single-parenting.

Another proposal is House Joint Resolution NN, the Parental Rights Resolution, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish that “parents and legal guardians have a natural and fundamental right to direct the care, education, and upbringing of their children. No government action shall burden, abridge, or hinder this natural, fundamental right unless it is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

The Equal Parenting bill has languished in the House Judiciary Committee since Oct. 10 after six months of sitting in the Families and Children’s Services Committee without a hearing. A similar bill received mostly favorable testimony last year, but died when Rep. Dudley Spade, D-Tipton, declined to vote “yes” or “no” on it in committee.

Spade has signed the Parental Rights Resolution as a co-sponsor, although Rep. Mike Simpson, D-Liberty Twp., has not.

It is time to move these pieces of legislation forward for consideration by the full House. This month’s declaration pays recognition to fatherhood. It is important now that lawmakers also create a more equal state environment in which more children will benefit from responsible fatherhood.